Page 60 of Hawaii Can Suck It

Man, I royally fucked up. Like monumentally.

I’ve spent the last two years picking apart her work, acting like nothing she does is good enough. And now?

Now she thinks she’s not enough.

That’s on me.

The thing I know for damn sure is that I need to fix it.

Starting now.

CHAPTER NINE

CAM

GROUP CHAT : CPK FOREVER

Me:If you don’t hear from me, it’s because Reece finally snapped and buried my body.

Katie:What happened?

Me:He said I’m the “heart” of his channel.

Katie:Why does that feel like the beginning of a horror movie?

Petra:Run :-0 Get on a plane. Get off the island!

Me:If this is goodbye, you’re the best ride-or-die besties ever.

Petra:We’ll eat CPK in your memory.

“GOOD MORNING, DARESQUAD!It's a beautiful day here in paradise with my favorite girl!”

I burrow deeper into the silk sheets, convinced I’m trapped in a fever dream. Because that voice? That cheerful, borderline chipper tone? That can’t be…

My eyes crack open, confirming that yes, I am, in fact, awake. The Maui morning fills our wall-less love nest with golden light, the gauzy curtains dancing in the salt-kissed breeze. Outside, waves crash against the shore in a steady rhythm that would be soothing if I wasn’t currently questioning my grip on reality.

Standing on the balcony, filming, is Reece.

A grinning Reece.

A happy, fun, almost bouncy Reece.

This can’t be real.

He turns to me with tousled dark hair, sunlit blue eyes, and an expression way too cheerful for a guy who just yesterday was all grumbles and gargoyle.

“And good morning to you, my beautiful girlfriend.”

What fresh hell is this?

The mattress dips as he plops onto the edge of our bed, camera phone pointed directly at my face. “How did you sleep? Did you dream of me? Of penguins?”

I’m about to tell him where he can shove his device, when I see a chat exploding across his screen in real-time. Hearts and emojis flood upward like a technical tidal wave.

“¡Hijo de puta!”I dive under the covers, yanking the blankets over my head. “You’re doing a LIVE?!”

My heart pounds against my ribs. Betrayal. He’s beaming me to the internet—me, pre-makeup, in full bedheadmode. No warning. No prep time.Totalsurprise: here’s your favorite YouTuber’s sleep-deprived, unwashed, possibly feral girlfriend.

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